Prince Henry of Prussia (1747–1767)

Prince Friedrich Heinrich Karl of Prussia ( born December 30, 1747 in Berlin, † May 26 1767 in Protzen of Fehrbellin ) was the favorite nephew of Frederick the Great, chose the career officer in the Prussian army and was last in the rank of major general.

Life

Henry was the son of Prince August Wilhelm of Prussia and Louise Amalie of Brunswick- Wolfenbüttel (1722-1780) and thus the younger brother of the later King Frederick William II. The house tradition, he was already following on January 16, 1748 High Order awarded the Black Eagle. On the occasion of the death of his father he was born on December 8, 1758 Chief of cuirassiers No. 2 On September 20, 1764 Heinrich captain and company commander in the 1st Battalion Guard (No. 13a). On September 17, 1764 he was promoted to colonel and took over his cuirassiers. On April 26, 1767 King had him promoted to Major General. The tragic death during a maneuver in Protzen made ​​the young prince, which probably was an extraordinary career into the house, came to an abrupt end. The king thought highly of him, sometimes even considered the succession to change in his favor. The funeral sermon was from the king's spring:

" Forever you will live in my heart! The death, gentlemen, is granted to us all. Blessed are those who die with the comforting knowledge that they deserve the tears of the survivors. "

Theodor Fontane portrays his life and especially his death in the walks through the Mark Brandenburg as follows: